The great historical episodes of the era such as the Ikko Ikki uprising and the spread of Christianity can be experienced through events. Smaller, independent factions are represented as rebel clans and ronin. For instance, the Imagawa clan trains more efficient espionage agents, while the Takeda clan can produce higher quality cavalry. While each clan has access to the same broad units and technology and begins the game with roughly the same amount of land, each clan has a specific advantage in a particular area. The northern parts of Honshū are home to the Uesugi and Hōjō clans. The island of Kyūshū and the southwest end of Honshū incorporates the Shimazu, Mōri and Takeda clans, while the Oda and Imagawa clans control the central parts of Honshū. The game consists of seven factions which the player can choose to play as, each one of Japan's historical clans. The real-time element of the game allows the player to assume command of one of their armies and personally direct the course of any battles that take place.

The turn-based campaign map, is where player moves their armies, conducts diplomacy, builds the infrastructure of their provinces and performs various other tasks necessary to run their faction. Shogun incorporates two main areas of play. The game puts the player in the position of a Japanese daimyo with the objective of conquering Japan through military might, diplomacy, espionage, trade and religion, thereby taking the position of shogun. Shogun: Total War is focused on samurai warfare in the Sengoku period of Japanese history.

Total war seven kingdoms campaign